The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
nase for tbs nnrpoes Of avoiding the accu.

tails, stimulates habit OF reckless lmprovi
dence not in the least consistent with the
mission of our people or the high and bench
cent purposes Of our Government.
have deemed it my duty to thus bring to
the knowledge of my countrymen, as we'll q:
to the attention of their representatives
charged with the responsibility Of legislative
relief, the gravity of our financial situation.
The failure of the Congress heretofore to pro-
vide against the dangers which it was quite
evident the very nature Of the difficulty must
necessarily produce, caused condition OF
financial distress and apprehension since yoar
last adjournment, which taxed to the utmost
all the authority and expedients within E1-
scutive control: and these appear now to be
exhausted. II disaster results from the con-
tinued inaction of Congress, the responsibility
must rest where it belongs
Though the situation thus far conSld-
cred is fraught with danger which should be
fully realized, and though it presents features
of wrong to the people as well as peri! to the
country, it is q result growing out OF per-
fectly palpabe and apparent cause, con-
stantly reproducing the same alarming cir
eumstances-a congested national treasury
and q depleted monetary condition IN the
business of the country. 1t need hardly be
stated that while the present situation de-
mands q remedy, we can only be saved from
moval of its cause.
Our scheme of tax alton, by means Of which
this needless surplus is taken from the people
and put into the public treasury, consists OF
q tariff or duty levied upon importat!ons
from abroad, and internal revenue taxes
levied upon the consumption OF tobacco and
-spirituous and malt liquors. 1t must be con-
ceded that none Of these things subjected to
internal revenue taxation are, strlckly speak.
ing, necessaries; there appears to be no just
complaint of this taxation by the consumers
of those articles, and there seems to be poth.
ing 50 well able to bear the burden without
hardship to any portion Of the people.
But our present tariff laws, the vicious, in
eouitable and illogical source of unnecessary
taxation, ought to be at once revised and
amended. These laws, as their primary and
plain effect, raise the price to consumers of all
articles imported and subject to duty. by pre-
cisely the sum paid for such duties. Thus the
amount of the duty measures the tax paid by
those who purchase for use these imported
articles. Many Of these things, however, are
raised or manufactured in our own country,
and the duties now levied upon foreign goods
and products are called protection to these
home manufactures, because they render it
possible for those of our people who are manu-
facturers to make these taxed articles and sell
them for price equal to that demanded for
imported goods that have paid custo ms duty.
So it happens that while comparatively few
use the imported articles, millions OF our
people, who never use and never saw any OF
the foreign products. purchase and use things
of the same kind made in this country, and
pay therefore nearly or quite the same en-
.hanced price which the duty adds to the i'm
ported articles. Those who buy imports pay
the duty charged thereon in the public treas
.ury, but the great majority of our citizens,
who buy domestic articles of the same class,
pay q sum at least approximately equal to
this duty to tho home manufacturer: Ihis
reference to the operation OF our tariff laws
Is not made by way Of instruction, but in
order that we may be constantly reminded OF
the manner in which they impose burden
upon those who consume domestic products as
we'll as those who consume imported articles,
and thus create tax upon all our people.
1t is not proposed to entirely relieve the
country Of this taxation. 1t must be extern
sively continued as the source Of the Govern
7ment's income; and in q readjustment OF our
tariff the interests of American labor engaged
in manufacture should be carefully consid-
cred, as well as the preservation Of our manu-
factnrera Ii may be called protection, or by
any other name, butrelief from the hardships
and dangers Of our present tariff laws should
be devised with especial precaution against i'm
periling the existence Of our manufacturing
q condition which. without regard to the public
welfare or national exigency, must always
insure the realization Of immense profits in
stead Of moderately profitable returns. As
the volume and diversity of our national
activities increase, new recruits are added to
those who desire a continuation Of the adran-
tages which they conceive the present system
OF tariff taxation directly affords them. So
stubbornly have all efforts to reform the
haay f11 hry fh0Ca
our fellow-citizens thus engaged, that they
can'hardly complain Of the suspicion, enter
tained to q certain extent, that there exists
an organized combination all along the line
to maintain their advantage.
We are in the midst Of centennial celebra-
tions and with becoming pride we rejoice in
American skill and ingenuity, in American en-
ergy and enterprise, and in the wonderful nat
ural advantages and resources developed by a
centurys national growth. Yet when an at
tempt Is made to justify scheme which per-
mits tax to be laid upon every consumer In
the land for the benefit Of our manufacturers,
quite beyond reasonable demand for govern
mental regard, it suits the purposes of advo-
cacy to call our manufactures infant indus
tries, still needing the highest and greatest
degree Of favor and fostering care that can be
wrung from Federal legislation.
It Is also said that the increase in the price
present tariff is necessary in order that higher
wages may be paid to our workingmen en-
ploYed in manufactures than are paid for
what is called the pauper labor of Europe. All
will acknowledge the force of an argument
which involves the welfare and liberal COM
pensstion Of our laboring people. Our labor
Is honorable in the eyes of every American
citizen: and as it lies at the foundation of our
development and progress, it is entitled, with
out affectation or hypocrisy, to the utmost
regard. The standard ee car laborars' life
should not be measured by that Of any other
country less favored, and they are entitled to
their full share of all our advantages.
BY the last census it IS made to appear
that of the II, ,S92, ,O99 Of our population en-.
gagged in all kinds Of industries 1870, ,493 are
employed in agriculture, 4,04, ,2SS in profes..
sional and personal service, 2,934, ,o76 OF
whom are domestic servants and laborers,l
while 1,9I0,256 are employed in trade and
transportation, and 1881, III arc clessed as
employed in manufacturing and mining.
For present purposes, however, the last
number given should be considerably re-
duced. Without attempting to enumerate
all, it will be conceded that there should be
deducted from those which it includes 375, 143
carpenters and joiners, 2S5, ,40l milliners,
.dressmakers, and seamstresses, 172,7S black.
smiths, 133, ,756 tailors and tailoresses, l02 473
masons, 49, 241 butchers, Al 500 bakers, q, OS3
plasterers, and 1881 engaged in manufactur-
ing agricultural implements, amounting in
the aggregate to l,2l4.02S, leaving 1928 OSJ
persons employed in such manufacturing in
dustries as are claimed to be benefited by a
high tariff.
TO these the appeal is made to save their
EMPLOYMENT and maintain their wages by re-
sisting a change. There should be no dlspo-
sition to answer such suggestions by the
allegation that they are in q minority among
those who labor, and therefore should forego
an advantage, in the interest Of low prices
for the majority; their compensation, as IT
may be affected by the operation OF the tariff